Writing a book

Today I went to the Imagination Prompt Generator. It says, "The book you want to write. What will be in it?"

If I were a talented writer, I would write a HILARIOUS novel about being a Christian single. There are so many situations I've been in as a Christian single girl and have heard from my friends that were absolutely absurd, that if I could figure out a plot line to string them all together, I would love to make it into a book.

Here is my favorite story that has happened to me:
The time some creepy guys at singles group talked to me, and tried to impress me by telling me that they had just finished recovery, the guy owned his own painting business, etc. Then gave the superb pickup line of asking what my favorite Bible verse was, and invited me to Bible study at their house (which I'm pretty sure consisted of just the two of them). I was so incredibly creeped out, I scrambled to get all of my things together, and their parting words? "You can remember our names (Brad and George) because of Brad Pitt and George Clooney." At least they were right about one thing. I have never forgotten their names.

mawwige...mawwige is what brings us togevver today.

Title is courtesy of one of my favorite movies ever... the Princess Bride!

The topic is courtesy of my sister and her husband's 5th anniversary.

Here are this single girl's musings on marriage.

1. It is a beautiful thing.


2. Its not about the wedding.
--as much as all of us un-married girlies like to plan our weddings in theory, it's only one day. If people put as much work into marriage as they put into pulling off beautiful weddings, I think that divorce wouldn't be as crazy rampant as it is. I have been lucky enough to have several beautiful examples of REAL marriage in my life. My parents have been married for 31 years. I have lived with them for 24 of those years. And I have never EVER doubted for a moment that my parents loved each other. And now, my sister and her hubby have been married for 5 years. True love is kinda cute. Not gonna lie.

(p.s. I love the ideas of leopard print shoes hiding under a wedding dress. that's hot.)

3. It is work.
--Whoever penned the phrase "...and they lived happily ever after..." should be shot. Honestly, are you serious? Do you think that Belle and the Beast lived the rest of their days smiling at each other, waking up with no bed head, and he never had any relapses of the "I told you never to come here!!!!" moments? Did he just wake up differently one morning, changing his habits over night? No. It's gotta be work. (Although, neither Belle or the Beast had mothers-in-law, so that had to simplify something... :-D). How about Prince Phillip and Sleeping Beauty? They sang one song together, she almost died (slept 100 years...died...really, what's the diff?), and then they got married. I'm sure they had a huge wakeup call shortly after the honeymoon. And really, he's my favorite (and clearly the most handsome) Disney Prince. If he has issues, who wouldn't?

4. It is worth it.

--I can only say this from what my favorite married people have told me. Having someone who knows you inside and out, and still loves you...that must rock. Waking up beside your best friend every day. Having someone greet you with a smile when you come home from work, and actually wonder how your day was. The SAME person giving you a kiss before you leave for work in the morning... Someone to support the decisions you have to make together, someone to have children with, someone to lean on when you feel like you can't stand alone anymore...

Dear future husband,
I so look forward to life with you. Not a perfect life. Not an easy life. But a life together.

Ashley
me and my sis on her wedding day

Laughter.

Plinky prompt: What makes someone funny to you? Everyone has a different sense of humor. What makes you laugh?

EVERYTHING! I have a crazy sense of humor...I LOVE America's Funniest Home videos. People getting scared silly makes me laugh so hard that I think that I will pee in my pants. In fact, here is a link to one that makes me laugh so hard that I cry: People Getting Scared

My friends definitely make me laugh. Sheetal, Michelle, Denise, and I can get pretty silly after our small group on Friday nights. The later it gets...the more out of control we get.

Babies laughing. The purity of the laughter, the simplicity...it's just contagious.

More linky goodness of things that make me laugh:

1. LOLCats
2. Stuff Christians Like
3. Amy Beth
4. Bon Qui Qui
5. Anjelah Johnson Nail Salon Sketch
6. John Pinette

blogging fail.

I am a blogging failure, I know. I don't think anyone reads it, so I'm not real sure where the motivation for blogging should come from. My blessed sister manages to blog almost every day! And ABB from Ministry So Fabulous has been blogging on an international trip! I really have no excuse other than to say...I am motivationally challenged.

Maybe if I had a prompt-per-day I would do better. Any suggestions?

The cry of my heart

"This might hurt
It’s not safe
But I know that I’ve gotta make a change
I don’t care
If I break
At least I’ll be feeling something
‘Cause just ok
Is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything?
Instead of going through the motions

No regrets
Not this time
I’m gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love
Make me whole
I think I’m finally feeling something

Take me all the way
Take me all the way
Take me all the way"

-"The Motions" by Matthew West

Goal #2

Goal #1 is in the process of being accomplished--opened savings account today.

Goal #2- Figure out the best way to finish out school so I can be teaching in a classroom ASAP. I work as a one-on-one instructional assistant, and I have found that I do better working with various children, not focusing on one all day. With more than one, they are (usually) not all misbehaving at the same time, and can balance each other out. With working with just one, if they have a bad day, you have a bad day. I take things so personally, and when he is not behaving well, I feel like I've failed. I really love kids, but am working hard to convince myself that I still want to be a teacher. I just have to rest in the promises that God has planted in my heart about my calling, and what gifts he has given me.

Until then, I will just have to look at pictures of this adorable niece I've got--and remember all the blessings he has given me.














<3

Life Goal #1

Well, I guess it's really a goal of the moment. Goal #1- Save money. I am notoriously bad at saving money. I really idolize my sister in this--she shops for groceries for the week all on $40. I spent $40 on one Nashville sweatshirt at the airport on Sunday. It makes me sick. It should make you sick, too. I feel like I don't use the resources that God entrusts me with like I should. There is so much that needs saving up for--a new car (I got in mine in the 85 degree weather today and remembered that the AC on my car doesn't work anymore. neither does the rear window defroster.), as well as enough money so that I will be able to make it through a semester of student teaching with no income. This will also entail coming up with a weekly budget once I figure out how much I will be able to save. Did I mention that I am bad with money? Ugh. I'm really glad God loves me no matter how much of a screw up I can be.

This weekend I went to visit my sister (VanderbiltWife--go read her blog!) and saw my niece get dedicated. She is undoubtedly the most beautiful baby I've ever seen. But I'm way biased.

Discontentment

A lot lately, I've been feeling discontent with all areas of my life. As a Christian single in a married church world, it can be so frustrating! I feel that the Lord has promised me that I will be married some day, but he's teaching me a lot about waiting in the interim. Lord, I don't want to wait anymore! So I've been sulking. I've drifted far away from him--more in the sense that I have no motivation to read the Bible, and sermons just bounce around in my head...not that I am trying to sin more, or turning my back on Him. I still pray--do you ever just feel like you're crying out in frustration instead of looking for His direction? In my time of struggle, I've looked for a blog or page that can help, so I don't feel like I am all alone out here in my 24-year-old singleness and frustration at God--but still loving him with all of my heart and deep underneath, really wanting His will for my life, because I know it's what's best. I haven't found what I was looking for, so I really want to try to be transparent, so maybe I can eventually inspire other 20-somethings who long for God's best.
Do you want to take this journey with me? It may be long, and full of complaints, but full of blessing. I know that if I try to follow him, he will bless me. Let me know you're out there, reader...as I think aloud.

Do you ever just feel like saying, "God, are you serious?"
It's been one of those weeks where this lesser Christian woman has been extremely astounded by my lack of composure. One of those weeks where all the smallest, miniscule, things go wrong--and add up to tears pouring down your face and feeling overwhelmed. But...God is bigger than I am. I am so thankful that he chooses to not reveal everything to me at once, but small bits a piece at a time.
The Bible says that God will never give you more than you can handle. But I really think he trusts me too much.

stolen from my sis :-)

To find your ROCK STAR NAME take your first pet & current car:

Pumpkin Lumina

To find your GANGSTA NAME take your favorite ice cream flavor and your favorite cookie:

Mint Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter

YOUR DETECTIVE NAME? Your favorite color and favorite animal:

Pink Monkey

Everybody wants a SOAP OPERA NAME, so take your middle name and the city where you were born:

Nicole Elkhart

Want to know your SUPERHERO NAME? Just add the word "The" plus your 2nd favorite color, and your favorite drink:

The Green Diet Dr. Pepper

Your NASCAR NAME. Take the first names of your grandfathers:

Lowell Arthur

If I ever go into WITNESS PROTECTION you can find me with this name. Your mother’s & father’s middle names:

Jean Paul

TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME? Just take your 5th grade teacher’s last name and add a major city that starts with the same letter:

Dietz Detroit

Of course, if you find me in witness protection I will assume it was because you were using your SPY NAME. Add your favorite season/holiday to your flower:

Fall Tulips

Tell your kids their CARTOON NAME by taking your favorite fruit, an article of clothing you’re wearing right now, now add "ie" or "y":

Pineapple Jeany

And lastly, your ROCKSTAR TOUR is heading across the northeast...it's called

("The” + Your fave hobby/craft, your fave weather element + the word “Tour”):

The Painting Wind Tour

Blessed

Just reflecting on my 24th birthday yesterday--I realize again how blessed I am. I celebrated with friends at lunch, at dinner, at small group...and all the while, I had postings pouring onto my wall on Facebook with well wishes from friends and acquaintances. In my 24 years, I think I'm realizing that it just continues to get better. When I think I may be blessed (and am!) with friends and places, etc., I move on to a new place, and build a new life and with even more friends--it happened when I went to college, and then again when I moved to Philadelphia a few years ago. Not only do I have friendships from the 15 years I lived in Virginia, but I have friendships from the four years at college, and now from my 2 years here. I am so blessed that, no matter the distance, some friendships still sustain--and those are the ones that are worth it the most.

I am so thankful for everything God has given to me in the past year. If you had asked me if I were happy on my last birthday, I probably would have answered with an honest no. Since then, I have fallen into my place here in PA and have more that I could EVER have asked for or imagined (Ephesians 3:20!). All I had to do was follow the Lord's leading. So, if you get even the smallest inkling that the Lord may be leading you somewhere, follow Him there! You will be infinitely blessed in return.

Boredom and weird vampires.

So...lately at work, I have been utterly bored. I should have thought about writing on here. I know my beloved sister reads this, even if no one else does, and that is enough :) I have yet to figure out how I am the admin. assistant for 3 men (HS pastor, MS pastor, and Young Adults pastor) and still get bored, when I only work 20 hours a week. I think I do things too quickly, maybe. And then when they're done, I'm left with nothing to do...again.

So, I've been reading the Twilight series. Yes, reading vampire books while sitting at the front reception desk at a church. No one seems bothered. I really love the books. It took me about 2 days to read the 1st (Twilight), 1 to read the 2nd (New Moon), I don't know, maybe 2-3 to read the 3rd (Eclipse), I started the 4th (Breaking Dawn) yesterday...and I will probably finish it today. I don't know what it is that draws me to these books. As a graduate student, reading mindlessly about utter nonsense during my winter break has been really nice. However, this 4th book is a little ridiculous (SPOILER ALERT.) Half-vampire, half-human baby? Really? Well, I'll give Edward and Bella this--at least they waited until they were married to have a child. Actually, they waited until they were married to have sex. That is good news, since every teenybopper in America has been reading this.

Oh yeah...don't go see the movie. Read the books. Really.

Rant over.

Have a good day!

The Bleeding Woman, from Luke and Mark

Twelve years. I opened my eyes, but stayed in bed, wondering why I would even need to get up. Twelve years unclean--like one of the lepers. So many doctors had come in and out of my life. They each tried their various cures, collecting my money, then got frustrated and left. Now, I was alone, sick, and completely impoverished.

That morning, a crowd of voices drifted through my open window, and I recognized the voice of a man who lived down the street-- "He's coming across the lake! Jesus is coming this direction!"

Something in my heart leapt. Is this what hope felt like? It had been so long since I had felt anything but the pain of constant bleeding and the poking and prodding of doctors. Something deep inside of my broken body stirred as I heard the name--Jesus. With a struggle, I pulled myself to a seated position.

Once, I had been beautiful. But now, the blood had drained from every part of my body. I knew just from the horrified stares that I had gotten when people caught just a glimpse of me, that I must look gaunt and gray-faced.

I stood, feeling dizzy enough to fall face-forward onto the ground. I steadied myself against the wall, sweat forming on my upper lip and on my brow. I pushed with one hand against the wall, and started determinedly taking one step at a time. Somehow, I knew that if I could get to this man, this Jesus, I could be healed. Stories of his miraculous signs and rumors of him being the Messiah that we had all waiter for had filtered through the town.

I took step after step, sweat pouring down my face. It took hours to make it the miles to the lake--and I finally began to see the edge of the crowd. The hope in my heart that had pulled me instinctively in this direction began to build even more. From this distance, I couldn't see him, but I knew he had to be in the center of the crowd. I craned my neck, taking all the strength I had, and there he was. He had a kind face, but wasn't handsome. He looked ordinary. However, he had definitely caught the attention of the crowd. I knew that I would never make it through. I dropped to my knees and squeezed through the edge of the crowd.

A woman stepped on my fingers. I scratched at the hard clay ground with my fingernails, clawing past numberless pairs of feet. I didn't care, I just knew I needed to get to the center. The dust was coating my sweaty skin, and I was exerting more energy than I had in 12 years. The tan hem of the man's garment was in sight. I wearily reached out my hand, my sore fingertips barely brushed his garment--I wasn't even sure that it was enough to get his attention.

I felt the warmth flood my body, and I knew I had touched him. Somehow, the bleeding had stopped, and blood was reaching parts of my body that had been deprived for so long. My breath was still coming in deep gasps, but I found the strength to peer up at him, the sun shining into my eyes.

"Who touched me?" His voice was kind, like his eyes. I rose a little from my crawling position. His deep brown eyes scanned the crowd as I struggled to my feet. I managed a step towards him before I fell at his feet. It wasn't lack of strength that forced me to my knees--it was the awe.

"Sir...Lord. It was me." I met his eyes briefly, but quickly looked away as the whispers about me, "that unclean woman" began. But I knew I had to explain the feeling that had led me to find him. "I knew if I could only touch you, I would be okay."

He kneeled down and laid a hand on my trembling shoulder as tears welled in my eyes. "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." He gently put his hand under my elbow and helped me rise to my feet. I watched him walk away and the crowd that followed him until he was gone from view.

I no longer felt pain, nor bleeding. Months later, our Messiah was crucified. He bled and suffered--so that I wouldn't have to.